Under the Table

While the book Under the Table by Katherine Darling has not one thing related to Alton Brown, I am placing this post on here because if I did not have this blog the opportunity would not have presented itself. And before I go any further, I would like to thank Esther at Atria Books for extending the offer for the advance copy of the book. I still can't believe she gave me this chance!

For me to really enjoy a story I have to identify, or at the very least like, the main character. In many books I'm put off by whiny heroines, heroes with too many flaws and the like. But in this book I found myself, immediately, drawn to Katherine. She was me, apart from being a petite blonde with a wonderful fiancee and living in NYC that is. But what grabbed me, from the opening page, was the driving force to start the journey toward becoming a trained chef. Or Chef with a big C as she liked to say. Katherine had a wonderful spirit and determination from the beginning and all throughout the trials of culinary school.

What caught me at first, was Katherine describing her work life in a fishbowl cubicle with mountains of manuscripts to plow through but instead of working she thought about cooking. Replace a few descriptors, and that's me. Stuck in a soul deadening job thinking about the joys cooking gives me while going through the trained monkey steps of my job. She also had a deep admiration for Jacques Pepin. Chef Pepin is to Kathrine like AB is to me.

Yeah, I was going to love this gal.

Making the decision to follow her passion for cooking, a passion cultivated since childhood from her mother and grandmother, Katherine left her job in publishing to attend The French Culinary Institute. Right away she was thrown into a hellish, boot camp-like program that tested in both culinary skills and mental and physical stamina. What I loved about the story was through the long hours of school and the tongue lashings from the chef-instructors, Katherine never gave up. She could have easily stopped and returned to her former life but she continued onward toward that grande diplome. Katherine had a beautiful spirit.

Besides a wonderfully told story, filled with wacky students and mad French Chefs, the other fabulous part of the book was how Katherine explained culinary techniques and ingredients. Of course as a devotee of Good Eats and AB's superb teaching ability, reading these passages quickly became some of the greatest parts of the book. The lessons were straight-forward and easy to understand. In reading this book, I learned about making fish stock!

Peppered through the book, typically at the end of a chapter, where several recipes. There are a couple I have my eye on, flourless chocolate cake, cheddar biscuits and apple-bottom gingerbread.

Call yourself a foodie or, like me, you just have an unnatural interest in all things culinary, Under the Table is a great read. After finishing the book, I was pleased to know more about the actual experience of going through culinary school. Since my early teen years I have dreamed of attending culinary school. While I'd love to have the culinary knowledge that education would bring, I've told myself (and others who asked me why I haven't gone culinary school) with no burning desire to become a chef in a top-notch restaurant it wouldn't be the best thing for me. This book cemented that notion. I'm extremely happy and grateful to receive my culinary teachings from Alton. He's much nicer than those French Chefs too. Although, I'd love to earn one of those tall toques.

The last thing I took away from reading this book, was taking chances and perusing dreams. At that start and until the end, Katherine didn't have a clue about a career after culinary school, but she continued to strive and reach the dream of being a trained chef. She didn't give up or give in. I loved that about her. I found her a big inspiration for my own pursuits. Upon reading the first page of the book and seeing the reasoning behind leaving her career, I wondered about my own current job situation and if this book was since to me for a reason. Who knows? But I am seeing the same spirit and determination in my own attempts. I can only hope and pray this spirit can bless me in the same way.

Ok, back to the book... an awesome tale filled with colorful characters, a spirited leading lady and plenty of culinary insights, Under the Table deserves a 5 whisk review!